This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
Security Council
Secretary-General warns Security Council that tensions between major powers at "historic high"
On 24 April, the Security Council held an open debate on effective multilateralism. Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening remarks, said that the world faced unprecedented and interlocking crises, and that the multilateral system was under greater strain than at any other time since the founding of the Organization. “Tensions between major powers are at an historic high,” he cautioned, going on to underscore that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people.” He also highlighted members of the Council had a particular responsibility “to make multilateralism work, rather than contribute to its dismemberment.” Of the worsening situation in Sudan, he said that “The violence must stop" as it risked “a catastrophic conflagration within Sudan that could engulf the whole region and beyond.” Watch remarks here.
SRSG Perthes briefs Council on ongoing armed confrontation in Sudan
On 26 April, in an evening session, the Security Council considered the situation in Sudan. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan Volker Perthes said that since the last briefing on 17 April, his efforts and those of Member States and regional organizations had focused on securing humanitarian pauses or ceasefires between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. He noted that the efforts had met with limited success and the situation on the ground had escalated dramatically. He went on to note the "positive step" of the 72-hour ceasefire brokered by the United States, which was holding in some parts. The UN will focus on a sustained ceasefire and a return to political negotiations, he said. Watch remarks here.
Next Week
Switzerland will assume the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May.
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